What’s The Talk Of Education
SCHOOLS CUTTING SUBJECTS
The future of every country lies in its schools. If your school teaches a bunch of impractical crap like Irish and religion over useful stuff like economics and chemistry, then we’re gonna have some fairly dumb kids.
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Sigh . . . there’s no money in the budget and we can’t afford to teach children economics. Yet every single one of them is forced to learn Irish. Smart thinking right there.
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Stop paying capitation grants to private fee-paying schools. There’s a saving right there that might allow many non-fee paying schools keep and develop a broad curriculum. As it stands private schools are able to bathe their pupils in high-end fripperies like an iPad for each child. How is this fair? Will Ho Chi Quinn put an end to gifting public money to what are effectively privately-run businesses? Not while he regularly shoves his hooves under the polite dinner tables of leafy south county Dublin.
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At my son’s first-year parent-teacher meeting we met with his religion teacher to talk about his progress. His computer teacher wasn’t there because computing is not an exam subject. Way past time to review priorities in the education system.
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SHOULD RELIGION HAVE A ROLE IN EDUCATION? (THEJOURNAL.IE POLL)
Maybe in the form of cultural studies, where religion may be discussed as opposed to taught; but not religion as a subject itself.
– Paul Mallon
I vote no. Religion should be taught as a subject where students develop a broad understanding of a wide range of religions in equal measure. The facility for additional doctrinal teaching/communion prep etc should be available should parents so decide in after-school classes. No specific doctrine of any one religion should be taught under any circumstances in any school.
– Iain Murray
I don’t think there is harm in having one religion period a week. Which is what I got in school. That was a good few years ago now, and was taught from a very Catholic viewpoint – obviously. But I do think it should be taught from a more academic perspective, and should give students the chance to learn about and respect all religions. – Ailís McKernan
Religion is an important part of life for the majority. Every subject apart from English and maths could be examined and arguments made for inclusion or not. Children should be well informed about the major world religions in order to understand the world.
– Terry Turner
Teach your child about your religion on your own time, I say. Or wait until they are old enough to decide for themselves.
– Alan McBride
I think the poll question is a bit off. What I think we have not got in Ireland is that Catholicism does not equal religion. Religion as an academic subject being taught and Catholic catechism being taught are two very different things. Religion is such a large part of people’s makeup that to gain a greater understanding of different religious beliefs and indeed atheism should be part of education.
– simontuohy
